egislation, maternal healthcare, fertility, female literacy, sanitation, violence against women and maternal deaths: a natural experiment in 32 Mexican states

Objective To test whether there is an association between abortion legislation and maternal mortality outcomes after controlling for other factors thought to influence maternal health. Design Population-based natural experiment. Setting and data sources Official maternal mortality data from 32 federal states of Mexico between 2002 and 2011. Main outcomes Maternal mortality ratio (MMR), MMR with any abortive outcome (MMRAO) and induced abortion mortality ratio (iAMR). Independent variables Abortion legislation grouped as less (n=18) or more permissive (n=14); constitutional amendment protecting the unborn (n=17); skilled attendance at birth; all-abortion hospitalisation ratio; low birth weight rate; contraceptive use; total fertility rates (TFR); clean water; sanitation; female literacy rate and intimate-partner violence

Clinical features of 314 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.Background: Immunomodulatory drugs (IMD), Interferon β1a, β1b and glatiramer acetate are available in the Chilean public health system since June 2008 for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS). Diagnostic confirmation and programmed follow up of these patients is carried out at a public national reference center. Aim: To describe the epidemiological and clinical features of 314 patients evaluated in this center between 2008 and 2012. Patients and Methods: Review of clinical records, to obtain information about demographic background, medical history, expanded disability status scale of Kurtzke (EDSS), multiple sclerosis functional composite (MSFC), intensity fatigue scale of Krupp, Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BNR-R) and anxious-depressive manifestations using Hamilton and Beck questionnaires. Results: The ages of patients ranged from 12 to 63 years and 67% were women. The initial symptoms were sensory disturbances in 20%, motor alterations in 18% and optical neuritis in 16%. In 9% of patients, the disease began with several manifestations. The EDSS was 4 or less in 73% of patients and cognitive impairment was observed in 34%. Treatment failure during the first and second years, occurred in 23 and 26% of patients, respectively. Male gender, age under 40 and brainstem malfunction at the onset of disease, were predictive of treatment failure during the second year. Conclusions: The features of these patients are very similar to those reported abroad. (Rev Med Chile 2014; 142: 559-566) Key words: Disease progression; Immunomodulation; Multiple Sclerosisi, Relapsin-Remittin

Inclusión de necesidades educativas especiales permanentes en la experiencia docente : una reflexión de profesores dentro de un establecimiento municipal ubicado en la comuna de Las Condes

Tesis (Profesor de Educación General Básica, Licenciado en Educación)La presente investigación denominada “Inclusión de Necesidades Educativas Especiales Permanentes en la experiencia docente: una reflexión de docentes dentro de un establecimiento municipal ubicado en la comuna de Las Condes” pretende dar a conocer las diversas estrategias que los docentes utilizan para abordar o enfrentar los diferentes casos de alumnos con Necesidades Educativas Especiales Permanentes dentro de sus clases correspondientes. La siguiente investigación se basa en analizar la percepción de la comunidad educativa de un establecimiento municipal, en base a la implementación de estrategias para niños con Necesidades Educativas Especiales Permanentes abordando el cambio que trae consigo la nueva Ley de Inclusión. Coexistente al motivo anterior se realizó un Focus Group dirigido a docentes de dicho establecimiento, la recolección de sus experiencias permitió generar una investigación básica, siendo además un aporte a la comunidad docente y docentes en formación, dando una mirada fresca sobre la experiencia docente en la Inclusión Educativa. En conclusión, los docentes reciben apoyo de los establecimientos, pero su mayor fuente de conocimiento son las estrategias empleadas por otros docentes y la comunicación entre estos, lo que permite generar una inclusión dentro de sus aulas

Biological, Behavioral and Physiological Consequences of Drug-Induced Pregnancy Termination at First-Trimester Human Equivalent in an Animal Model

Given the significant physiological changes that take place during and resulting from pregnancy, as well as the relative absence of such information in relation to pregnancy termination, this study investigated the potential for developing a valid animal model to objectively assess the biological, physiological and behavioral consequences of drug-induced pregnancy termination. Female Long-Evans rats were divided into four groups (n = 19–21/group), controlling for drug [mifepristone (50 mg/kg/3 ml, i.g.)/misoprostol (0.3 mg/kg/ml, i.g.) or vehicle (1% Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/0.2% Tween® 80 suspension, i.g.)] and pregnancy. Drug administration took place on days 12–14 of gestation (days 28–40 human gestational equivalent). Vehicle was administered to the controls on the same days. Parameters measured included rat body weight, food intake, vaginal impedance, sucrose consumption/preference, locomotor activity, forced swim test, and home-cage activity. At the termination of the study, rats were deeply anesthetized using urethane, and blood, brain, and liver were collected for biochemical analysis. Following drug/vehicle administration, only the pregnancy termination group (pregnant, drug) displayed a significant decrease in body weight, food intake, locomotor activity-related behaviors and home-cage activity relative to the control group (non-pregnant, vehicle). Additionally, the pregnancy termination group was the only group that displayed a significant reduction in sucrose consumption/preference during Treatment Week relative to Pre-Treatment Week. Vaginal impedance did not significantly decrease over time in parous rats in contrast to all other groups, including the rats in the pregnancy termination group. Biochemical analysis indicated putative drug- and pregnancy-specific influences on oxidative balance. Regression analysis indicated that pregnancy termination was a predictor variable for body weight, food intake and all locomotor activity parameters measured. Moreover, pertaining to body weight and food intake, the pregnancy termination group displayed significant changes, which were not present in a group of naturally miscarrying rats following pregnancy loss. Overall, our results appear to suggest negative biological and behavioral effects following pregnancy termination, that appear to also be distinct from natural miscarriage, and potential benefits of parity pertaining to fecundity. Thus, our findings indicate the importance for further objective investigation of the physiological and behavioral consequences of medical abortion, in order to provide further insight into the potential implications in humans

Redox regulation of calcium release in skeletal and cardiac muscle

In skeletal and cardiac muscle cells, specific isoforms of the Ryanodine receptor channels mediate Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These channels are highly susceptible to redox modifications, which regulate channel activity. In this work, we studied the effects of Ca2+ (endogenous agonist) and Mg2+ (endogenous inhibitor) on the kinetics of Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles isolated from skeletal or cardiac mammalian muscle. Native skeletal vesicles exhibited maximal stimulation of release kinetics by 10-20 µM [Ca2+], whereas in native cardiac vesicles, maximal stimulation of release required only 1 µM [Ca2+]. In 10 µM [Ca2+], free [Mg2+] < 0.1 mM produced marked inhibition of release from skeletal vesicles but free [Mg2+] ­ 0.8 mM did not affect release from cardiac vesicles. Incubation of skeletal or cardiac vesicles with the oxidant thimerosal increased their susceptibility to stimulation by Ca2+ and decreased the inhibitory effect of Mg2+ in skeletal vesicles. Sulfhydryl-reducing agents fully reversed the effects of thimerosal. The endogenous redox species, glutathione disulfide and S-nitrosoglutathione, also stimulated release from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. In 10 µM [Ca2+], 35S-nitrosoglutathione labeled a protein fraction enriched in release channels through S-glutathiolation. Free [Mg2+] 1 mM or decreasing free [Ca2+] to the nM range prevented this reaction. Possible physiological and pathological consequences of redox modification of release channels on Ca2+ signaling in heart and muscle cells are discusse

Maltrato Físico Infantil y Apoyo Social: Un Estudio Descriptivo - Comparativo Entre Maltratadores Físicos y No Maltratadores de la Ciudad de Temuco Child Physical Abuse and Social Support: A Descriptive and Comparative Study Between Physical and Non Physical Abusers From the City of Temuco, Chile

Para realizar intervenciones preventivas o terapéuticas con familias maltratadoras, es relevante conocer los déficit predominantes en la variable apoyo social. Es por ello, que el objetivo del presente estudio es describir y comparar aspectos estructurales y funcionales del apoyo social de padres maltratadores físicos y no maltratadores. Este estudio, es un análisis secundario realizado con datos del proyecto FONDECYT 1960795 "Construcción de un instrumento para detectar potencial maltrato físico infantil". La investigación utiliza diseño de casos y controles, incluye 325 sujetos, 112 maltratadores físicos y 213 no maltratadores. El análisis de datos incluyó análisis univariado de la varianza y análisis de varianza factorial. Los aspectos funcionales del apoyo social resultan ser más significativos al diferenciar padres no maltratadores de padres maltratadores físicos. Se discuten principales hallazgos, implicancias y limitaciones del estudio.To carry out preventive and therapeutic interventions in abusive families, it is very important to consider the huge deficit of social support for these families. For this reason, the outcome of this research is the description and comparison of structural and functional aspects of abusive and non-abusive parent's social support. This investigation is a secondary analysis carried out with data taken from the FONDECYT 1960795, "Building up an instrument to detect potencial physical abuse". For the research a cases-control design is used including 325 subjects, 112 physical abusers and 213 non-physical abusers. The data analysis included a univariate analysis of variance and analysis of factorial variance. The functional aspects of the social support turn out to be more significant when comparing physical abusive parents and non-physical abusive parents. Main discoveries, implications, and limitations are discussed

Iron and glutathione at the crossroad of redox metabolism in neurons

Neurons, as non-dividing cells, encounter a myriad of stressful conditions throughout their lifespan. In particular, there is increasing evidence that iron progressively accumulates in the brain with age and that iron-induced oxidative stress is the cause of several forms of neurodegeneration. Here, we review recent evidence that gives support to the following notions: 1) neuronal iron accumulation leads to oxidative stress and cell death; 2) neuronal survival to iron accumulation associates with decreased expression of the iron import transporter DMT1 and increased expression of the efflux transporter IREG1; and 3) the adaptive process of neurons towards iron-induced oxidative stress includes a marked increase in both the expression of the catalytic subunit of gamma glutamate-cysteine ligase and glutathione. These findings may help to understand aging-related neurodegeneration hallmarks: oxidative damage, functional impairment and cell death

Redox regulation of calcium release in skeletal and cardiac muscle

In skeletal and cardiac muscle cells, specific isoforms of the Ryanodine receptor channels mediate Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These channels are highly susceptible to redox modifications, which regulate channel activity. In this work, we studied the effects of Ca2+ (endogenous agonist) and Mg2+ (endogenous inhibitor) on the kinetics of Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles isolated from skeletal or cardiac mammalian muscle. Native skeletal vesicles exhibited maximal stimulation of release kinetics by 10-20 μM [Ca2+], whereas in native cardiac vesicles, maximal stimulation of release required only 1 μM [Ca2+]. In 10 μM [Ca2+], free [Mg2+] &lt; 0.1 mM produced marked inhibition of release from skeletal vesicles but free [Mg2+] ≤ 0.8 mM did not affect release from cardiac vesicles. Incubation of skeletal or cardiac vesicles with the oxidant thimerosal increased their susceptibility to stimulation by Ca2+ and decreased the inhibitory effect of Mg2+ in skeletal

Upregulation of γ-glutamate-cysteine ligase as part of the long-term adaptation process to iron accumulation in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells

Reactive iron is an important prooxidant factor, whereas GSH is a crucial component of a long-term adaptive system that allows cells to function during extended periods of high oxidative stress. In this work, the adaptive response of the GSH system to prolonged iron loads was characterized in human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. After the initial death of a substantial portion of the cell population, the surviving cells increased their GSH content by up to fivefold. This increase was traced to increased expression of the catalytic and modulatory subunits of γ-glutamate-cysteine ligase. Under conditions of high iron load, cells maintained a low GSSG content through two mechanisms: 1) GSSG reductase-mediated recycling of GSSG to GSH and 2) multidrug resistant protein 1-mediated extrusion of GSSG. Increased GSH synthesis and low GSSG levels contributed to recover the cell reduction potential from -290 mV at the time of cell death to about -320 mV. These results highlight the f